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Éric Chelle has told the Super Eagles to start their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign at full throttle, saying a fast start is the surest way to avoid the stress and uncertainty of a late scramble.
The Eagles host the Barea of Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Friday. They know the value of banking points early, and they don’t want a repeat of the drama that unsettled their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, even after a late surge.
According to NFF media, Chelle stated “We have to show everyone from Day One that we want it, and the only way to do that is to go for it with our hearts, and refuse to slow down at any point. We must go for the points without any hesitation,” Chelle said, looking ahead to the first two games of the campaign, against Madagascar and Guinea Bissau. The Eagles fly to Bissau on Sunday for the Day 2 clash with the Wild Dogs, scheduled for the 24 September Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September.
Nigeria welcomes back dependable defender Ola Aina and utility youngster Benjamin Fredricks. Forward Taiwo Awoniyi is also drafted in, covering for the forced absence of Victor Osimhen.
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Chelle has a pleasant headache in goal, where Maduka Okoye and Stanley Nwabali are both in camp and super-fit. He has similar choices in defence and attack. At the back, Fredricks, Aina, Bruno Onyemaechi, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel are all good to start, as is Turkey-based Chibuike Nwaiwu. Up front, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze and newcomer George Ilhenikena are all in great form.
Friday’s game will revive memories of past meetings between the two countries at senior level. At this same stage 16 years ago, the start of an AFCON qualifying race, the Super Eagles beat the Barea 2-0 in Calabar on 5 September 2010. A year later, in the reverse fixture in Antananarivo, the Eagles won by the same scoreline.
But on the last day of June 2019, the Barea pulled off one of the biggest upsets in AFCON history, beating Nigeria 2-0 in a group match in Alexandria. Notably, the Eagles had already qualified for the Round of 16 before that game.
On Friday, both sides will fight for three crucial points at the start of another AFCON ticket race. The Barea say they are ready for battle and arrived in Uyo three clear days before the match.
